The Irish standard., 1887-12-31
\ ANGELO SOL,MAN'S HIDE.
Romantic History of the Head of an Arls
tocratic Austrian Family.

short time ago the natural history col
lection in the Imperial Palace st. Wen
ma included among its most remark
able curiosities the stuffed hide of .
human being. The recent discussion
concerning the eArd-cases manufacture.
ed at Paris Of the murderer Pranzini's
skin has recalled attention 10 the fact,
and to the romantic history Of the man
who has so long figured in the Austrian
Emperor's private museum. The name
of the original owner of the hide was
Angelo Soliman, who, Notwithstanding
the fact that he was coal-black negro
from. the Soudanese tribe Of the Gallas,
was nevertheless the ancestor and
grandfather of several of the most
noted members OF the Viennese aristo-
cracy. One Of his grandsonsis the Baron
Ernst Won Feuchtersleben, who held
Cabinet Office for several years as I'm
perial Minister of the Public Worship
Department. Another Of his grand
sons. the Baron Edouard Won Feuchter-
sleben, is celebrated author and poet,
while several OF his great-grandsons
hold rank in the Imperial diplomatic
and military service. Two days week
until quite lately these members Of the
Austrian nobility had the extraordinary
privilege Of being able to visit theiz
stuffed sncestor, who, seated on an
armchair with his perfectly preserved
features and staring glass eyes, pre-
sented most litelike and uncanny ap-
pearance.
The history Of Angelo soliman is as
follows: In the year OF 174o Prince
Lobkowitz, one of the principal Gen
erals in the Imperial An strian army,
happened. while visiting the City OF
Messina, in Sicily, to have his atten-
ton drawn to little seven~year-old
negro hoy who was acting as page to
one Of thu noble ladies of the place.
The child was asserted to be the Off
spring of e native King and was said
20 havs been kidnapped from, his home
and sold as slave at Cairo. By some
means or other he had come into the
hands of SEES captain trading between
Alexaudria and Sicily, whc had
brought him TO Messina and presented
him to the lady in question. Che lat
ter had caused him to be baptized by
the name Of Angelo Soli1nan. Prince
Lobkowitx took great fancy to tho
boy, persuaded the lady to let him have
the child, and took him into hia asrvice
Ange}o followed his new master every
whera, w.as present with him through
out nil the campaigns, and received a
most careful education On tils death
Of the General he entered the service
of Prince Liechtenstein as tutor OF the
latter's children.
Angs]o had become e. remarkably
learned man. he spoka perfectly sev~
sraI languages--French, Italian, Ger
man. Latin and Czech. Although
Of small stature, he was wonderfully well
built, hi1 features although as black al
charcoal were Of q Caucasian rather
than Of sn Ethiopian cast, and his hair.
beard aud mustnche were silky and
curly. His manners were distinguished
by the most exquisit courtesy, ard
dressed 1n his flowing Oriental robea
and snow-wlaitc t1,rban BIO was one OF
the most popular members OF tie hsst
Yiennese society Of the day. A noble
widow, sac Baroness dc Chris st'ani, fell
deeply In love with him, and in due
time q marriage took place. For some
reason or ether Prince Liechtenstein
viewed the union with disf;yor and
quarreled with Angelo, who
thereupon left his service. lie was,
however, very comfortably off, for not
only was his wife wealthy, bat he HIM
self had just % short time before won
the principal prize Of 10000 forms in
tine Frankfort State Lottery, He pur-
chased a pretty house and garden in
the suburbs of Vienna, and lived there
most happily with his wife, devoting
himself to the education of his daugh-
ter, Josephine, the only issue Of the
marriage. The young girl was one OF
the most fascinating and beautiful
types of mulatto imaginable, ana after
refusing large number of ofers at
length gave her hand in marriage to
one Of the imperial Counselors OF State,
the Baron Won Feuchtersleben, from
whom the present bearers OF the name
and title are descended in direct line
Angelo, who before his death had be-
come reconciled to the Liechtenstein
family, went over to the great majority
in 1896, being seyenty-fye years old at
the time
The Emperor, who had always shown
great fancy for Angelo, conceived
the peculiar idea of preserving his old
friend, stuffed and in glass case.
Strange 10 relate, Angeles family,
far from being offended, expressed
themselves highly Aattered by the inn
perial request, and Immediately con-
sented to surrender the remains to the
court taxidermists After having cast
made of his face and body by the Ia
NOUS sculptor, Franz Thaller, the skin
was carefully removed from the body,
subjected to number of chemical
preparations, and finally stuffed with
great care 1t is only quite recently
l.